Floor machine



Oct. 11, 1932. w. FINNELL 1,881,431

FLOOR MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 11, 1932. w. s. FINNELL 1,881,431

FLOOR MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1927 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIII brush devices adapted to support the machine.

Patented Oct. 11 1932 PATENT OFFICE WALTER S. FIN N ELL, OF ELKI-IART, INDIANA FLOOR MACHINE Application filed December 15, 1927. Serial No. 240,110.

My invention relates to floor machines and has to do especially with a machine for household use which may be used for scrubbing, sanding, waxing and polishing floors.

One'of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap and highly efficient machine of this character which is of such size as to require very little storage space and which is light in weight and exceedingly easy to handle.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character which embodies a plurality of as a whole when in operation and which are so carried and driven as to provide a perfectly balanced support for the machine, To accomplish this the brush devices are rotated toward each other, and the possibility of either of the supporting brush devices being converted, in efiect, into a driven Wheel which might cause the operator to lose control of the machine is eliminated.

A further object is to provide means for readily and quickly converting the machine for scrubbing, sanding, waxing or polishing. To this end I provide a detachable member adapted to be supportedby the brush devices in contact with the floor surface, such member embodying flexible elements yieldably engageable with the brush devices to effect a drlving connection therebetween which permits adjustment of the member in all directions, vertical and otherwise, relative to the brush devices to compensate for irregularities in the floor surface under treatment.

An additional object is to provide separate readily and quickly attaching and detaching the brushes from the driving means, such means taking the form of a yieldable connector so associated with the driving connection that the brushes may be removed by merely moving the same away from their'supports and may be attached by merely moving them toward their supports.

A further object is to provide a handle for the machine which includes a latch and a roller support, the arrangement being such that by tilting the'handle in one direction the loadis imposed upon the brushes and by tilting it in the other direction the load is imposed upon the roller support.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawings wherein,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying my invention and showing certain of the parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine of Fig. 1, with certain of the parts being shown broken away;

Fig. 4 is a separated elevated View of a detachable member for converting the machine for sanding, waxing or polishing;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 1; and showing the member of Fig. 4 applied.

Fig. 6 is a plan sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the brush structure, taken substantially on line 77 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the brush structure taken substantially on line 88 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged top plan view of the member of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, I show one form of apparatus embodying my invention which is very compact and neat in appearance. It comprises a driving mechanism Which includes a housing having an inverted cupshaped top section 10 with a horizontal flange 11 at its bottom edge, and a flat bottom section 12 which is secured to the flange 11 by a plurality of screws 13. The housing section 10 is adapted to be filled with a lubricant and a gasket 14 is inserted between the flange 11 and bottom plate 12 to prevent leakage of the lubricant at that point. A motor casing section 15 of the housing carries the usual electric motor parts is formed integral with the housing section 10. The gear housing carries two worm gears 16 each of which has a hub 16 supported between the bearings 17 and 18 formed on the top and bottom housing sections 10 and 12 respectively. These gears are keyed to shafts 19 which are journaled 1n the bearings 17 and 18, and these shafts project downwardly through the bottom plate 12 for a purpose which will become obvious hereinafter. To rotate these worm gears toward each other, I employ a worm 2O mounted on the motor shaft 2.[ which is journaled in suitable hearings in the housing section 1.0, one of such bearings being indicated by the numeral '22 in Fig. 1. A take-up adjusting screw 23 is associated with the bearing 22 an the end of the motor shaft 21 for a wellknown purpose.

The pro ecting ends of the shafts 19 are each slightly tapered tosnugly receive a fiatsided drivin head 24 which has an octagonal shape where y its upper edges are tapered downwardly and its lower edges are tapered upwardly. This head is secured to the shaft 19 by. a pin 24 so that it will rotate therewith. The usual stufiing boxes 12 are associated with the shaft 19 and the housing to prevent leakage of the lubricant.

Each of the driving heads 24 is associated with a brush device and, since both of these devices arev identical, only one of them will be described. The brush device comprises a circular brush head 25 formed, preferably, of wood with an opening 26 through its central portion. This brush headlcarries a pluralit of brush bristles-27 mounted in any desire manner, but spaced at the center to provide access therethrough to the opening 26 in the brush head.

A circular metal plate 28 having its central portion depressed to form a fiat-sided pocket 29 is secured to the top of the brush head 25 by a plurality of screws, or other suitable devices, 30. This pocket 29 is adapted to receive the driving head 24 so that upon rotation of the gear shaft 19 a corresponding m'ovement will be transmitted to the brush device. This pocket is of greater length and width than the driving head and its bottom portion is rounded to receive the rounded end 24 of the driving head whereby the brush device is free to tilt in all directions relative to the drivin head to compensate for irregularities which may be present in the floor surface.

It is highly desirable that the brush devices be interlocked with the driving mechanism in such amanner that when the machine is lifted from the floor surface the brush devices will be carried therewith, and they will not became detached during operation; and it is also desirable that they be capable of ready and uick removal for cleaning purposes or substltution of other brush devices. To provide a connection between the brush device and the driving mechanism which permits of these desirable features, I provide a spring connector 31 adapted to be carried by the metal plate 28. This s ring connector ma be formed of spring wire or other suitab e material, which may be bent to the form shown in Fig. 6, so that the arms 33 thereof tend to spring toward each other. The loop end of this spring connector is attached to the metal plate 28 by a lug 32 which is, preferably, struck upwardly from the plate 28 and then bent downwardly thereto as indicated in Fig. 5. The spring arms 33 (Fig. 6) extend across the top of the pocket 29, between the ends thereof, and the ends of these arms are confined and held in a predetermined spaced relation by spaced lugs 34 struck upwardly from the plate 28 and then bent downwardly theretoward as clearly indicated in Fig. 8. The tendency of the arms 33 to spring inwardly toward each other is limited by the retaining lugs 34.

It will be obvious that, with the foregoing construction, the brush device may be readily and quickly attached to the driving head by merely inserting the lower end of the driving head between the spring arms and forcing the brush device toward the driving head. As this is done, the lower tapered edges of the driving head cause the spring arms to spread apart and permit insertion of the driving head therebetween into the pocket 29 and these arms then spring together again as they engage the upper tapered edges of such driving head. When it is desired to detach the brush device, it is merely pulled outwardl away from the drivin head, durin whictime the upper tapere surfaces of t e driving head cause the spring arms to spread apart and then to spring together again as they engage the lower tapered edges of the driving head. While this arrangement readily permits of. attachment and detachment of the brush device, the spring arms 33 grip the upper tapered surfaces of the driving head sufficiently to prevent accidental detachment of the brush device during operation and to maintain the connection between the driving mechanism and the brush device when the machine is lifted from the floor and moved from place to place.

The motor casing 15 is provided with laterally projecting bosses 35 which pivotally receive a yoke member 36 having an integral socket 37 adapted to receive the handle 38. The arms of the handle yoke 36 are integrally extended downwardly and rearwardly, as indicated at 39, and receive an axle 40 upon which are mounted wheels 41. The axle 40 ly (Fig. 2) the rear end of the motor casing' and the wheels 41 are raised upwardly from thefloor and the entire machine is supported by the brush devices. \Vhen the machine is not in operation and the handle is lowered, thewheels 41 support the rear end of the machine and carry the handle in a raised position where it may be readily grasped. The

handle yoke 36 has an integral bifurcate extension 43 adjacent the socket 37, which pivotally receives a latch 44 adapted to engage a projection or keeper 45 on the top of the motor casing (Fig. 1) so that, as the handle is moved downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2, the forward end of the machine together with the brush devices carried thereby, will be raised from the floor surface and the'machine as a whole may be transported from place to place on the wheels 41. If desired, the latch 44 may be manually disengaged and rendered ineffective to permit the machine to be more readily carried from place to place; but when the machine is again placed on the floor, say in the position of Fig. 2, the latch will again automatically engage the projection 45 on the housing as the handle 38 is moved upwardly.

It is believed that the operation of the structure so far described is clear and it may be stated generally as follows Assuming that the brush deviees'are suitable for scrubbing, the scrubbing fluid is applied to the floor surface by hand or in any other desired manner. For example, a scrubbing fluid container may be carried by the handle 38 with the provision of suitable means for controlling the flow of fluid therefrom and, in which case, such fluid may be delivered at a point between or interiorly of the brushes. One such arrangement is disclosed in my eo-pending application, Serial No. 116,371, filed June 16, 1926. In either event, when it is desired to scrub the floor, the handle is raised so that the weight of the machine is carried bythe brushes and the electric switch 46 is thrown to its on position. At this time, the electric cord 47 is connected to a suitable wall socket and it will be understood that the switch 46 makes the desired electrical connection between the .cord 47 and the electric motor. As the foregoing takes place, the rotation of the gears 16 causes a like rotation of the brush devices toward each other. With the brush devices rotating toward each other, the scrubbing fluid will not be thrown about proniiscuously but will be kept substantially within the limits of the brush structure. Also. by the use of two brushes driven toward each other any tendency of the machine to run sidewise and get beyond the control of the operator, such as may occur with the use of a single brush supporting the weight of the machine, is eliminated. More partic-.

ularly, if a single brush device were employed, a slight tilting action of the machine would convert such brush device into an effective driven wheel which would cause the ward each other which provides a positive 1 balanced effect.

Another important feature of my invention is the provision of means for readily convertingthe machine for either scrubbing or sanding ,or waxing or polishing the floor surfaces. To this end, I provide a detachable member such as shown in Fig. 4. This.

member comprises a circular metal plate 48 which is substantially the diameter of the brush device having a peripheral upstanding flange 49. A pair of upstanding spaced and flexible attaching lugs 50 are carried by the central portion of the plate 48 so that when the plateis positioned, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 7, these lugs will extend upwardly between the brush bristles and through the opening 26 in the brush head. The free ends of these upstanding lugs 50 are bent outwardly and then inwardly to provide opposed V-shaped surfaces. 28, at the opposite sides of the driving head receiving-pocket, is provided with slots 51 adapted to receive the upstanding lugs 50 so that the rotary motion of the brush device will be transmitted to the plate 48. The slots 51 are so located that, when the upstanding lugs 50 are inserted between the brush bristles and through the opening 26 in the brush head, on the opposite sides of the driving head receiving-pocket, the inwardly tapered end portions of said lugs will engage the slots. As these lugs are forced inwardly toward the brush device, their ends will be forced inwardly toward each other and will then spring away from each other as the V-shaped end portions pass through said slots. This arrangement is such that the detachable member will remain connected to the brush device during operation and at times when the machine may be lifted from the floor, but will, at the same time, permit ready attachment and detachment of the member by merely pushing the same inwardly toward the brush-device and by pulling it outwardly therefrom in a manner which will be readily understood.

It will be appreciated that this detachable member which is used for sanding or waxing or polishing is cushioned against the floor surface by the brush bristles and that the upstanding lugs 50 are so connected to the brush device that the member may adjust itselfvertically and tiltably in all directions toaccommodate irregularities in the floor surface.

The plate 48 is adapted to receive on its under side a soft pad 53 formed, preferably, of a felt material over which is passed a floor treating element 54 which may take the form The metal brush plate of a piece of sand paper orburlap material .".I.

or a polishing cloth, dependent upon the treatment to be given the floor surface. The treating element 54 is secured upon the late 48 by passing the same up over the perip eral for scrubbing the floor, or for adding a high polish thereto. The detachable member, including the plate 48, may be applied to the brush device for sanding, or waxing or polishing the floor. The structure as a whole is exceedingly simple in construction and is very easy to operate. Floors may be readily treated by an unskilled person. The machineis of such shape that it may be readily moved about the floor and beneath objects without danger of injuring the same. As an aid in this connection I also employ a rubber bumper 56 which extends around the gear housing in a groove between the upper and lower sections thereof. In addition to the foregoing, the machine is of such small size that it requires a minimum of storage space. lVhile I have shown only one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various changes in details and arrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the claims which follow.

I claim:

'1. In a device of the character described, a housing, a plurality of vertical shafts journaled in said housing and projecting downwardly therethrough and therebeneath, gears mounted on the upper ends of said shafts within said housing, a horizontal shaft journaled in said housing, another gear on said horizontal shaft adapted tomes'h with both said first gears to drive the latter toward each other, an integral rearward extension on said gear housing carr ing means for driving said horizontal sha t, brush devices connected to the lower projecting ends of said vertical shafts for\rotation therewith, wheel means supporting the rear of said housing, the forward part of said housing being supported by said brush devices during operation, means including a handle pivoted to said housing and an abutment constituting a part of said wheel'means. adapted to be actuated by said handle to engage and tilt said housing in one direction to render its weight effective upon said brush devices and to propel the same along the floor upon said brush devices, and other means pivotally associated with said handle and moved thereby for engaging and tilting said housing in the opposite direction for supportin and propelling it along solely upon said'w eel means.

i 2. In a machine of the character described, a housing, driving mechanism supported by said housing, brush means connected to said driving mechanism at the forward part'of said housing, a member pivotally connected to the rear of said housing, wheels carried by said member and adapted to engage the floor surface for transport ofthe machine, an abutment element on said member, a latch element on said member, a handle on said member extending rearwardly, from the housing, a kee er on said housing, said abutment element eing engageable with the underside of the rear of said housing when said handle is raised and said latch element being engageable with said keeper when said handle is lowered.

3. In a machine of the character described ahousing, driving mechanism supported byspaced V-shaped arms providing upper and lower arm sections, a cross member. extendmg beneath the rear of said housing and joining the lower of said arm sections, wheels carried by said member, a latch carried by the said upper arm sections, akeeper onthe upper part of said housing, a handle secured to the upper arm sections and extending rearwardly from said housing, said cross member being. engageable with the underside of the rear of said housing when said handle is raised and said latch being engageable with said keeper when said handle is lowered.

4. In a machine of the character described, a housing, driving mechanism supported by said housing, brush means connected to said driving mechanism at the forward part of said housing, wheel means at the rear of said housing for transporting the machine, a handle, a yoke member connected to said handle and pivotally connected to the opposite sides of said housing, a latch pivoted on said yoke member, a keeper on said housing and adapted to be engaged by said yoke latch element when said handle is lowered for tilting movement of said housing upon said wheels.

5. In a device of the character described a housing, drivingmeehanism mountedwithin said housing, a plurality of brush devices connected to said driving mechanism at the housing as said sup ort is moved forwardly for tilting the houslng forwardly to throw the weight of the device solely upon said brush devices, and said latch being adapted to engage said keeper as said support is moved downwardly to throw theweight of the device solely upon said wheels.

6. In a floor machine, a housing, a driving mechanism mounted within said housing,

brushes connected to said driving mecha nism at the forward end of said housing, a member pivotally secured to said housing, wheels carried by said member beneath said housing, a latch element carried by said member, a handle carried by said member, a

' brushes connected to said driving mecha-.

nism at the forward end of said housing, a member pivotally secured to said housing, an axle supported by said member and carrying wheels, said axle extending transversely beneath the rear portion of said housing, a latch element carried by said member, a handle carried by said member, a keeper on the top-part of said housing, said axle being adapted to engage the underside of said housingwhen said handle is moved forwardly for tilting the machine solely upon said brushes, and said firstlatch element being adapted to engage said keeper when said handle is tilted in arearward direction to throw the weight of the machine as a whole solely upon said wheels.

8. In a floor machine, a brush device having a flat-sided pocket therein with an open top and a closed bottom, driving mechanism therefor including a drive shaft,- means for releasably connecting said brush device to said shaft including a flat-sided drive member carried by said shaft, said drive member having its upper edges diverging downwardly and its lower edges diverging upwardly, and a yieldable connector including a pair of yieldable elements mounted over the entrance to said pocket and spaced apart a distance less than the maximum width of said drive member and adapted to spread apart to yieldably receive said drive member therebetween, engagement between said member and elements being effective by merely moving said.

brush device and elements directly toward and upon said drive member and disengagement being effected by merely moving said brush device and elements directly away therefrom.

9. In a floor machine, a brush devlce, driving mechanism therefor including a drive shaft, means for releasably connecting said brush device to said shaft comprising a flatsided drive member carried by said shaft and having upper edges diverging downwardly and lower edges diverging upwardly, a pocket in'said brush device adaptedto receive said member, and flexible resilient elements disposed above said pocket and s aced apart a less distance than the width 0 said member and between which said member passes in moving into and out of said pocket for gripping said up er edges when said member is in said poo Net to normally interlock said brush device and driving mechanism.

10. In a machine of the class described, a brush device having a flat-sided pocket therein, which pocket is closed at the bottom and open at the top, rotary driving'mechanism comprising a drive shaft having an elongated, flat-sided drive member at one end and adapted to be inserted in said pocket for imparting rotarv motion to said brush device, said member having its side edges at its free end diverging upwardly .and its side edges at its other end diverging downwardly, the free end of said member being that which first enters said pocket, and means for releasably interlocking said brush device and member against accidental separation comprising a pair of spring arms disposed over the open end of said pocket and spaced apart a less distance than the maximum distance between the side edges of said member and between which said member must be forced byrelative axial movement of said brush device to insert said member in and remove it from serted in said pocket for driving said brush,

and means for releasably interlocking said device and member comprising a yieldable connector carried by said brush device and having spaced laterally yieldable arms extending over said pocket and between which said member passes in its movement into and out of said pocket, said arms being spaced apart a distance less than the width of said member so that as said member is moved toward and into said pocket the lower tapered edges thereof engage and spread said arms and the upper tapered edges thereof permitting said arms to spring together behind said member.

12. In a floor machine, a brush device including a brush head having an opening therein, driving mechanism including a shaft, and means for connecting said brush device to said shaft comprising a flat-sided drive member on said shaft, a metal plate on said brush head having a portion depressed into said head opening to form a flat-sided pocket for receiving sai member, said pocket being ofigreater width and length than said member and having a rounded bottom upon which said member rests to permit said brush device to rock thereabout in all directions to adjust itself to irregularities in the floor surface.

13. In a floor machine, a brush device including a brush head having a central opening, driving mechanism including a drive shaft, a flat-sided drive member on said shaft and having its end tapered and rounded, a pocket-forming member carried by and extending down into said head opening to form a flat-sided and rounded bottom pocket for receiving said member, said pocket having greater length and width than said member whereby said brush device may rock in all directions, and means carried by said brush head for normally preventing withdrawal of said member from said pocket.

14. In a floor machine, a brush device, driving mechanism including a shaft, and means for connecting said shaft and brush device comprising'a flat-sided, elongated drive head on said shaft, a flat-sided pocket formed in said brush device for receiving said head, spring elements carried by the brush device and arranged to press toward each other and mounted over said pocket and between which said head passes to enter said pocket, said head having its opposite side edges at opposite ends tapered inwardly from the center of said head edges toward its ends so that it will spread said elements apart as it is moved toward and between the same and to permit said elements tospring together behind said head when said head is received within the pocket, and vice versa to move said elements apart as the head is withdrawn from a said pocket; the entire engaging and disengaging movements of said head being directly toward and away from said pocket.

15. A brush support for a floor machine which has a body part with a fiat-sided pocket formed therein for receiving a flat-sided drive element to drive said support, a drive interlock member attached to the body of said support and having spring legs with freely movable ends extending across the entrance to said pocket and spaced apart a distance normally less than the width of said drive element, which legs are adapted to yield and spread to receive the drive element in said pocket and to return to normal position to clamp said drive element therein, and retainer elements under which the free ends of said legs are passed to confine and limit yielding movements of the ends of said legs.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name. i

WALTER S. FINNELL. 

